Crating apparatus



June 7, 1938. E. ANDERSON 2,119,767

CRATING `APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNE Junev 7,1938.

E. ANDERSON CRATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l, 1934 mm m ml vm ww fl/ .fm mx June 7, 1938.- ANDERSON 2,119,767

CRATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1934 3 vsheets-sheet s INVENTOR 25 Z0rm/Y H/efso/l ATTO R N EYS Patented `June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES reOFFICE' CRATING APPARATUS 15.Claims.

This invention relates-to crating apparatusv and particularly to amachine for automatically asbe manually lifted and deposited in crates.Two men are usually required to perform this work` and to handle theoutput of the bottles from the lling and sealing apparatus.

This invention has for its salient object toprovide apparatus forautomatically crating lled and sealed containers and for accuratelydepositing the containers in the crate.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in mechanism of theclass described for preventing the crating mechanism from operating incase no crate is disposed in a position to receive the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple, practical andefficient mechanism for crating containers so constructed and arrangedthat the mechanism can be attached to the standard bottle handlingapparatus between the conveyor which discharges the filled containersfrom the filling and sealing mechanism and the crate feeding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in mechanism of thecharacter described means whereby the bottles can be inspected forforeign or-extraneous matter.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the 'drawings which form a partof this application, and in which Fig. l is an elevational view ofmechanism constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mcchanis shownin Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the machine shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view on a smaller scale showing the crate feedingand positioning mechanism, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation showing one of the clutches andthe control means therefor; A

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5*; and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation'showing further clutch controlmeans.

The invention briey described consists of crate support.

Emil Anderson, Briarclifl Manor, N. Y. Application November l, 1934,Serial No. 751,004

(Ci. 22S-id) mechanism adapted forattachment to standard bottle handlingapparatus and arranged to receive a plurality of bottles on a platformand to transfer these bottles in groups to crates positioned to receivethem. The bottles or containers are fed to the support by the usualconveyor which discharges the lled and 'sealed bottles and transfermeans is mounted on a movable carrier and is arranged to moveperiodically into engagement with the bottles on the support and totransfer the bottles to a position above a crate section andthereupon tolower the bottles and to deposit. them in the section. After one set otbottles has been deposited the crate is permitted to move forwardly to aposition in which the next section or division of the crate is sodisposed as to receive the next group of containers or bottles. Thisoperation is repeated until all of the compartments or sections of thecrate are filled whereupon the next succeeding crate on the crateconveyor will move forward to position its forward compartment in theproper location to receive the next load.

Means is provided in connection with the ap- 4 paratus to prevent thetransfer means from operating in caseV no crate is in position toreceive the load.

Further details-of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings, the mechanism is supported on the side rails Ill and yH of theBetween these rails runs a chain or belt i2 which,operates continuouslyand feeds the crates periodically when they are not held againstmovement by one of a plurality of stop members A, B, C or D. y

The mechanism was designed particularly for transferring milk bottlesfrom a support I3 to `the crate'. The support I3 receives the bottlesfrom and is disposed in alinement with an endless conveyor IH whichcqnveys the bottles to the mechanism from the illling andsealingapparatus. The milk crates or containers are usually providedwith four compartments, each compartment having three divisions. Forthis reason the bottles are fed three at a time and are deposited insuccessive compartments in the crate which is fed forwardly a distanceequal to the width of one compartment after each operation of thetransfer mechanism.

The transfer mechanism ismounted on uprights or pedestals 20 and 2lwhich are clamped to the side rails I0 and Il and may if desired be madevertically adjustable in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. As thereshown, the uprights 26 are adjustably mounted inv vertical guideways 22which are secured to the rails and each-post or upright 26, 2I hasformed at one edge thereof a rack 23 which is engaged by a pinion 24. Byrotating the pinion shaft 25 the uprights 26 and 2I will be raised orlowered. This adjustment-is provided for the purpose of` accommodatingthe machine for use with containers of different heights, such forinstance, pint bottles'andquart bottles.

The transfer means consists ,of a plurality of transfer members 36 whichare pivotally mounted on trunnions 3I carried by lugs 32 secured to apair of endless carrier` members or chains 33. 'I'he chains are mountedon sprockets 34 and, 35 carried by spindles 36 vand 31. The spindlev 31'is mounted at the free ends of armsl or beams 36 which are pivoted onthe spindle 36. g

' Each of the transfer members 3'6 is 'provided with a plurality ofyokes or forks adapted to em space the bottles for'discharge intothecrate sections.

' members In Fig. 1 the chains or carriers 33 have 'mounted 'thereontwo. transfer members.l When three` ing Fig. land the carriers continueto move the transfer members 36' during the downward mtion so that thebottles will move downwardly in a vertical plane into the crate or boxpositionedto receive them.- Thus, during one operation of the carriersor chains l33thel transfer member in operation will move from thepositionv E to the position H. However, during the movement from theposition G-to theposition H the arms 38 will swing downwardly todischarge the bottles into the crates. y 4

In order to guide and steady the bottles during their downward movementresilient blades or strips 45 and 46 are disposed in the path ofmovement of the bottles and converge downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. Theblades 45 and 46 are carried by cross members 41 and 48 which Aextendover the path of movement of the crates and are carried by members 49securedt upwardly extending pedestals 56 connected to the side frame I6and II. movement .of the transfer member the tail 36' will engage.thecross member 41 and swing the transfer member in a clockwisedirection viewing Fig. 1, thus withdrawing the forks of the transfer'member from engagement with the bottle and Transfer. operating andcontrol mechanism Y wise' direction viewing Fig.v 1.

pin 66 carried by the lever to raise the-link66,-

During the downward l invention shown,a motor Mfis mounted on a i 34 ismounted has also mounted thereon a sprocket which is connected by achain 66 to a sprocket 61 secured 'to a hollow shaft 66 concentric withthe shaft 62. A clutch member 16 Ils fixed to the hollow shaft 66 and isprovided with laterally movable spring actuated fdogs 1I which arenormally. held in retracted position by a lug 12 formed on a lever 13which is mounted on a fixed pivot 14. When the lug 12 engages one of thedogs 1I the dog will beheld in retracted posicontinuously when the motoris running andwhen the lever 1a is raised the rotation of the worm wheelwill be communicated to the clutch member 16 and to the hollow shaft66.` This Will cause the sprocket 61, chain 66 and sprocket 65 to rotatethe carriershaft 36 andmove one of the transfer membersxfrom theposition E into engagement with the bottles on the platform I3- and tothe! position G whereupon the arms 36 will swing downwardly at the sametime that the transfer. member moves from the-position G to H.

The vlever 13 is operated by ailink 66 which is connected at 6I to thelever and is normally held in its'lower position by means of a spring 82which enoircles the link and engages a fixed abutment 63 at one end anda collar 64 on the link at the other end. The lowerend of the link 66 isprovided with a slot 85 in whichis positioned a pin 66` carried by alever 61 which .is pivoted."

The conveyor I4 which conductsy the bottl from the filling and sealingapparatus to the transfer. mechanism is disposed in substantialalinement with the platform I3. However, between the conveyor'and theplatform there is mounted a star ywheel-96 having six concaved portions9I adapted to receive the bottles. star wheel 96 is mounted on avertical spindle 92 and will be rotated one-half of one revolution.

The

when three bottles or one load of bottles has'been y have been'deposited on the platform onev of thev lugs-will engage and tilt thelever 61 in a clock- This will cause the thus lifting the lever 13 andpermitting the clutch 16 to connect the hollow shaft 68 to the wormwheel 6I. Y

The'framc on which'the carrier and transfer members are mounted Aispivoted on the shaft 36 and comprises' the arrns36 and rearwardlyextending portibns 56 which are connected by a cross member 166; Thisframe is tiltable on the axis of -.the shaft 36 in the following manner:The shaft 62 on which the worm wheel 6I is loosely mounted has connectedthereto a clutch mem- A ber ml having dogs m2 simnar to the dogs 1| Thetransfer mechanism may be driven in any suitable manner and in theembodiment of theA on'the clutch member 16. Thedo'gs I62 are normallyheldin retracted position by a lever |63 which is actuated in aclockwise direction viewing Fig. 7 by a spring |04. The lever |03 hasformed thereon or secured thereto an arm |05 which extends into the pathof movement of a lug |05 carried by the clutch member 10.- When thismember 'I0 has rotated a predetermined extent it will engage the arm |05of the lever |03 and swing the lever in an anticlockwise directionviewing Fig. 'l releasing the dogs |02 of the clutch member When thesedogs are released they extend into the path of movement of one of thepins 64 carried by the worm wheel 6|. Thus, the rotation of the wormwheel will cause the clutch member I0| to rotate which in turn willrotate the shaft 62 on which it is mounted. The shaft 62 has alsomounted thereon an eccentric disk or cam IIO. The eccentric disk or camI|0 engages a roller III carried by an arm |I2 which is mounted on afixed pivot |I3 on a bracket or lug I|4 carried by one of the posts 20.The arm |I2 has a bifurcated or forked upper end I I5 which straddlesthe shaft 62. The rotation of the shaft 62 and the cam or eccentric ||0carried thereby will cause the carrier frame to be tilted downwardlyabout the shaft 36 since the roller carried by the arm |I2 is relativelyxed. The shaft 62 during this tilting movement will move upwardly in thebifurcated end ||5 of the arm |I2. Thus, as the clutch member IUI isactuated to drive the shaft 62 the disk ||0 'on Crate positioning meansAs hereinbefore stated, the crates are supported on thelguide rails I0and II and are frictionally engaged by a continuously operating conveyorbelt or chain I2. In order to properly position the crate to receive theloads from the transfer members a pluralitv ofstop members or lugs A, B,C and D are carried by a shaft |20. The lugs are connected to the shaftby a pin and slot connection |2I, as indicated in Fig. 4. Means isprovided for tilting the shaft |20 after the compartment disposed inreceiving position has been lled. This is accomplished by a link |22which lis pivoted at |23 to the carrier frame or extension 56 of the arm38. The link |22 is connected at its lower end to an arm |24 fixed. tothe shaft |20. When the carrier frame is tilted the link |22 will beraised and through the arm |24 will tilt the shaft |20 in a clockwisedirection viewing Fig- 3, thus raising all of the stop lugs A, B, C andD. The return of the carrier frame to its initial position willoscillate the shaft |20 in the opposite direction permitting the lugs toreturn to operative position, but since the crate has been permitted tobe fed by the conveyor I2 the lug which formerly positioned the crate inreceiving position will be disposed against the side wall ofthe crateand the cratev lug A will rest against the side Wall of the crate andthe crate will be stopped in 'position by the lug B which will disposethe second compartment in receiving position. This operation willberepeated after each compartment has been filled.

It will be evident that some means mustbe provided for positioning thefront crate out of align'- ment with the second crate since after thefour compartments of the first crate have been lled all four of the stoplugs will rest against the wall of the crate and these lugs would alsorest against the wall of the second crate. In order to prevent thismeans is provided for shifting the front crate laterally on thesupporting rails so that the wall of the crate at the side on which thestop lugs are located will be spaced inwardly from the correspondingwall of the next succeeding crate. This is accomplished by means of alever |25 mounted on a fixed pivot |26 and having a lug |21 adapted toengage the side wall of the crate disposed at the side of the track atwhich the stop fingers or lug are located. The lever |25 is normallyactuated away from the track or guide rails by a spring |28. Timed meansis provided, however, for periodically actuating the lever |25 tor pushthe crate laterally on the guide rails. This means consists of a cam |29mounted on a shaft |30 to which is secured a gear |3| which meshes witha gear |32 mounted on the spindle 92 of the star wheel 00. The gears areso proportioned that after the star wheel 90 has been rotated two timesor, in other words, has deposited four loads of three bottles eachin'the crate the cam |29 will engage and actuate the lever |25 and pushthe crate laterally on the The other rail I0' carries springs |31 and|38v which act to position the crate on the rails.

Means is provided for preventing the operation 'of the transfermechanism unless a crate is vin position to receive the bottles orcontainers.

This is accomplished as follows: The shaft |20 is slidabiy mounted inbrackets |40 and |4| by which it is carried anda spring |42 pressesagainst the front end of the shaft. When a crate is positioned inengagement with one of thel fingers or stop lugs A, B, C or D thepressure will cause the shaft |20 to be pressed forwardly to theposition'shown in full lines in Fig. 1. However, should no crate beengaged by any of the lugs the pressure of the spring |42 is silicientto lshift the shaft |20 longitudinally-or to the left y be operated thedriving mechanism for the transfer means will not function. Thus, noload will be engaged b y a transfer member and be fed to dischargingposition. It is obvious that such a 'safety provision is very importantsince unless a crate is in position to receive a load the operation ofthe transfer mechanism would` cause thebottles or containers to bedischarged and they would probably-be broken and the contents bespilled7 In order to insure the proper engagement of the threebottles onthe platform I3 by the transin theV path of movement ofthe bottles. Therod is carried by a Vvertical-spindle ISI and is pressed by a springI-62 against the bottles positioned on the platform I3. After thebottles have been engaged by the transfer. member and the transfermember moves forwardly the rod will be swung.

out of the way about the axis of the spindle I 6 I.

I Operation Although in the above description bottles have beenmentioned as the articles handled, -it will be 93 or 6l. carried by thestar wheel with the lever Il. If a crate is in position to receive aload the lever 31 will be tilted causing the link 80 to be pushedupwardly, lifting the lever I3 from its operative position andpermitting the. dogs 1I to move ,into the path of rotation of the pin 63carried'by the worm wheel 6I. This will cause the hollow'shaft 68 torotate, whereupon. the sprocket and chain connection 61. 66, 65 willrotate the shaft 36 causing the chains or carrier members 33and'transfer members 30 to start in operation. One of the transfermembers 30 will thereupon move-from the position E i'nto engagement witha load of containers or bottles on the platform I3 and will carry thesebottles to the position G above the compartment to receive them. Whenthe transfer member has reached the position G the lug |06 on the clutchmember 10 will swing the lever I 03 (Fig. '7) to the right releasing thedog I02 of the clutch member IIIy and permitting the dog'- to moveoutwardly into the path of movement of the pin 64 carried by the wormwheel 6I. This will clutch the shaft l2 to the worm wheel causing theshaft to be rotated. As this shaft is rotated the veccentric disk orcamIIII by. reason of its engagement with the roller II'I willswing thecarrier frame downwardly about the axis of the shaft 36. During .thisdownward movement the transfer member will move'from the position Gtothe position H, thus maintaining the bottles or articles supportedthereby in a vertical plan'e during their downward movement. When thetransfer member reaches the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 thetail 39 of the transfer member'will engage the cross rod 61 and tilt,thus releasing the bottles. During the downward movement of the bottlesthey will be steadied and guided by the spring plates 45, 46. f Thecarrier frame and transfer members will move downwardly to dis" chargeposition and back to their initial position upon one complete rotationof the shaft 62 and upon the completion of this rotation the lever IIIwill cause the dog |02 to be retracted out of the path of movement ofthe pin 64.

After one load has been deposited in the crate compartment and upon thetilting of the carrier frame the shaft I2I| will be oscillated freeingthe crate 4from the stop fingers or lugs. The shaft, however, isimmediately returned to its initial position andthe crate will bestopped in its feeding movement by the next succeding lug. For instance,in Fig. 4 after the front compartment has been filled the crate will bereleased and will be next engaged by the stop lug or finger B.

y l 2,119,767 fer member 30 a rod |56 -is ,normally positioned Ashereinbefore described, in order to insure the stopping of the nextsucceeding crate by the lug A after one crate has been fed the forwardcrate is shifted laterally after four loads have been deposited thereinby the operation of the lever in the manner above explained. In additionto the bottle transferring mechanism above described the device isprovided with means by which the bottles can be inspected. Sometimesduring the lling and sealing of the bottles one of the bottles will4 becracked and the broken pieces will naturally fall to the bottom. Alsoextraneous or foreign matter may enter the bottle and this matterusually settles to the bottom. In order to enable the operator to detectsuch foreign matter as rests on the bottom oi' the bottle a mirror Rissupported beneath the path of movement of the bottles from the support.I3 to the discharge position 'above the crate. Since the bottles aresuspended from above the bottoms of the bottles can be observed in themirror and any g foreign matter in the bottle can be easily detected. Asecond mirror R may be located at the side, as shown in Fig. 3. Y

Although one specific embodiment -of the invention -has beenparticularly shown and described, it will be understood that theinvention is capable of modification and that changes in theconstruction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts maybe made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention, asexpressed in the following claims.

What I claim gis:

l. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate lcomprising a support,means for feeding containers to saidv support, .means for feedingcrates,. said support being disposed above the level of the upper ends of the crates, an endless carrier, transfer means thereon forsuccessively engaging the containers on said support and movable in'asingle planel to feed them to a position above the crate into which theyare to be deposited, means controlled by the containers fed to saidsupport for moving'said endless carrier and transfer means, and meansoperable on said endless carrler for lowering the transfer means anddepositing the containers in the crate.y

2. Apparatus for depositing containers in a cratevcomprising a support,means for feeding containers to said support, means for feeding crates,a movable carrier,A a' plurality ofsuccessively acting transfermeansthereon for successively engaging and successively transferring the-rows of containers on said .support and feeding them to a positionabove the crate into which they are to be deposited, means controlled bythe containers fed to said support for moving said movable carrier andtransfer means', said transfer means being movable in a single planefrom receiving position to a position above the crate, means operable onsaid movable carrier for lowering the transfer means and Vdepositing therows of containers successively in the crate and means for operating thecrate feeding'means to feed the crate after each row of containers hasbeen deposited therein to a position to receive the next row ofcontainers.

3. Apparatus for depositingl containers in a crate. comprising asupport, means for feeding containers to said support, means for feedingcrates, means .engageable with a crate on said crate feeding means forpositioning the crate in predetermined positions to receive containers,

in a crate to release the crate and position the crate in its nextreceiving position, a movable carrier, a plurality of successivelyacting transfer y means thereon for engaging loads' of containers onsaid support and feeding them successively to a position above'the crateinto which they are to be deposited, means controlled by the containersfed to said support for moving said movable carcontainers to saidsupport, means for feedingV crates, means engageable with a crate on thecrate feeding means for positioning the crate in predetermined.positions to receive containers, means for operating said positioningmeans subsequent to the depositof each load of containers in a crate torelease the crate and position the crate in its next receiving position,and a plurality of successively acting, positively driven means operableto engage and transport the containers fromv the support to the crate.

5. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate comprising a support,means for feeding containers to said support, means for feeding crates,means engageable with a crate on the .crate feeding means forpositioning the crate in predetermined positions to receive containers,means operable to transfer the containers from the support to the crate,and 'means including the crate positioning means and operableV when acrate is not positioned in any one of said predetermined positions forpreventing the operation of saidtransfer Ameans to deposit containerswhen no crate is positioned to receive the containers.

6. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate comprising a support,means for feeding containers to said support, means for feeding crates,means engageable with a crate on the crate feeding means for positioningthe crate in predetermined positions to receive containers. means foroperating said positioning means subsequent to the deposit of leach loadof containers -in a crate to release the crate and position the crate inits next receiving position, means operable to transfer the containersfrom the support to the crate, and means including the crate positioningmeans and operable when a crate is not positioned in any one of saidpredetermined positions for preventing the operation ofv said transfermeans tol deposit containers when no crate is positioned to receive thecontainers.

'7. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate comprising a support,means for feeding containers to said support, means for feeding crates,a movable carrier, transfer means thereon for successively engaging rowsof containers on said support and successively feeding them in a singleplane to a position above the crate into which they are to be deposited,means controlled by the containers fed to said support for moving saidmovable carrier and transfer means, means operable on said movablecarrier for lowering the transfer means and depositing the rows ofcontainers, one row at a time in the crate, means for preventing theoperation of said transfer means to deposit containers when no crate ispositioned to receive the containers and meansv for operating the cratefeeding means to feed the crate after each row of containers has beendeposited therein to aposition to receive the next row of containers.

8. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate comprising asupportfor containers, a crate support, a hinged frame above thecontainer support, a movable carrier on said frame, a plurality oftransfer means on said carrier, engageable successively withcontainerson said container support, means for moving said carrier andsuccessively moving said transfer means from a position 1 above thecontainer support to a position above a crate, and means for swingingsaid frame, carrier t and transfer means downwardly, after each row ofcontainershas been engaged and moved thereby, to dischargethe row of`containers in the transfer means into the crate.

9. Apparatus for depositing containers in a -crate comprising a support,means for feeding containers to said support, means for feeding crates,a movable carrier, a plurality of successively acting transfer meansthereon for engaging the containers on said support, one row at a time,and movable in a single plane to feed them successively to a positionabove the crate into which they are to be deposited, meansv controlledby the containers fe'd to said support for moving said movable carrierand transfer means,

means operable on said movable carrier for lowering the transfer meansand depositing the containers, one row at a time, in the crate, means.engageable by the containers as they are being deposited in the cratefor guiding and steadying the containers and means for operating thecrate feeding means to feed the crate after each row of containers hasbeen deposited therein to receive the next row of containers.

10. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate comprising a supportfor containers, a crate support, a hinged frame above the containersupport, a movable carrier on said frame, a plurality of transfer meansAori said carrier, engageable successively with containers on saidcontainer support, means for moving said carrier and transfer `meansfrom a position above the container support to a position above a crate,means for 4cause the transfer means to engage and hold the bottles onthe bottle support, and means operable when the transfer means reaches aposition above the crate for swinging the hinged carrier supportdownwardly to release the bottles and deposit the bottles in the crate.

12. Apparatus for depositing bottles in a crate comprising a support forthe bottles, means for supporting a crate, a movable carrier, a hingedsupport for said carrier,y transfer means pivoted on the carrier, meansfor moving the carrier to cause the transfer means to engage and holdthe bottles on the bottle support, and means operablewhen the i transfermeansreaches a position above the crate for Aswinging the hinged carriersupport downwardly to release the bottles and p deposit the bottlesin`the crate, and means for tilting the transfer means to release thebottles therefrom. y

13. Apparatus for depositing bottles in a crate comprising av supportfor the bottles, means for *supporting a crate, a movable carrier, ahinged `support for said carrier, transfer means pivoted on the carrier,means for moving the carrier to cause the transfer means to engage andhold the bottles on the bottle support, means operable when the transfermeans reaches a position above theY crate for swinging the hingedcarrier support downwardly to release the. bottles and deposit thebottlesin the crate, and means engageable by the containers as they arebeing deposited in the crate for guiding and steadying the containers.

14. Apparatus for depositing containers in a crate comprising a support,means for feeding containers to said support, means for feeding crates,means engageable with a crate on the crate feeding means for positioningthe crate in predetermined positions to receive containers,

means operable to transfer the containers from4 by the number ofcontainers f i 2,119,767 the support to the crate, and means forshifting a crate laterally on the feeding means, relative to the path offeeding; movement thereof, when ed to the crate-for y

